Propelling mechanism for vessels.



PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

P. A. QQUPAL. PRoPELLm-G MEGHANISM PoR vssBLs. APPLIQATION ILED APE 2'! 1904 BENEWBD FEB 8 1806 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

PETER A. OOUPAL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROPELLING MECHANISNI FOR VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed April 27, 1904. Renewed February S, 1906. Serial llc 300,075.

.T0 all zult/1m t may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER A. CoUPAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Propelling Mechanism for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to propulsion mechanism of novel construction located amidships in a vessel and extended below the bottom thereof and consisting generally of a number of endless or circuit tracks secured centrally to the body of the vessel and carrying in guideways a train of paddle-trucks actuated by suitable engines for generating power transmitted through a sprocket-wheel adapted to engage and propel the paddletrucks, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and specified in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vessel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view or plan of same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of same, taken as on line 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the parts shown in the lower part of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the driving-wheel, shown with half its sprockets'omitted. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of same, taken diametrically on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of ,the sprockets detached from its wheel. Fig. 8 is an edge elevation of same. Fig. 9 is a plan of one of the paddle-trucks with the wheels omitted. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the same with the wheels added. Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken as on line 12 12, Fig. 10, with the wheels added.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of la vessel to which my improved propelling mechanism is applied; B, the train of paddle-trucks; O, the circuit-tracks; D, the sprocket-wheels which drive the paddletrucks E, the sprocket-shaft, the supporting bed and bearings of which are not shown, but which will be located in proper relation to and connected with the engines employed to furnish the power necessary to turn the driving-wheels and which will be in the position in the vessel that is indicated by the outlines marked F. As the engine construction forms no part of my present invention, it is not deemed necessary to further describe the same.

The guide-tracks, as shown, are centrally located in the body of the vessel and securely fastened thereto and extend below the bottom thereof, as will be more particularly described. By this position the paddles which are driven along these tracks are insured a constant hold upon the water regardless of the pitching and rolling of the vessel.

The construction of the paddle-trucks is l shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and their attached paddles J J are shown clearly in Figs. 3 and d. The side-grooved guide rails or tracks C C O2 O3 are extended partly below the bottom of the vessel and are thereto i'irmly attached, as well as farther up in.the body of the vessel, where they complete their circuit through openings H H and pass around the driving-wheel D, the sprockets of which enter spaces in the paddle-trucks B and thereby impel them successively along said tracks. The trucks are disconnected from each other, but follow so closely one upon another as to constitute a continuous train in which they impel each other under the force of the driven sprocket-wheel which is thereby imparted to them. These trucks B,

as illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 1]., are comprised of a metal frame cast or formed in one piece and having two cross-bars (L a, which are cored and fitted to receive the truck-shafts which have their bearings in the same 'and turn freely therein, and two longitudinal side bars b b and an elongated central bar b2. Rigidly attached or formed upon each of these longitudinal bars are two inclined paddle-brackets I I, (shown clearly in Fig. 10,) to which are securely fastened the paddleblades J J. (Shown n Figs. 3 and 4.)

The sprockets D of driving-wheel D when moving the paddle-trucks engage the same between the bars a a, and on both sides of the bar b2 entering the spaces there shown, the prolonged outer ends of bar b2 serving as impact ends to transmit motion from one truck to another. All the trucks are thus set in motion successively and the entire train forced around the circuit by such contact ofthe truck-frames with each other.

The truck-wheels K K are secured upon and roll freely with the truck-axles L, which revolve in the cross-bars a a, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The axles L extend from the groove in one track to the groove in the next opposite one with freedom of end movement therein sufficient to avoid excessive friction, and the wheels on the ends of the axles enter TOO the recesses in the rails and have a secure tread or bearing against eitherthe under or upper iianges M M of the track which are practically parallel with the axles of the trucks, such peripheral bearing of the wheels, whether upon M or M, depending upon the position of the wheels in their progress around the track under the varying conditions and relations to which they are subject in the performance of their said. service.

To secure the greatest ei'liciency of propulsion, I set my paddles at an angle with the bottom ofthe boat of from forty-'live to sixty degrees, so that when they are actively doing full service in the water in propelling the vessel forwardtheir submerged portions will incline toward the bow of the vessel, thereby tending to raise the bow as the vessel is thus propelled, and they will leave the water in their circuit around the track more freely and with less tendency to retard or counteract the progress of the vessel as they withdraw from the water. I deem this an advantageous featurefin my invention, as well as the disconnected and limited independent, action of the paddle-trucks in the circuittrain, whereby much friction is avoided and the train as a whole more easily started than if the trucks were joined together in an endless chain and made to move simultaneously as one body or truck. The great number of paddles thus engaged with the water at one and the same time and under such centralized location and stability of position gives such constant and advantageous hold upon the water that the propelling power is exerted to the greatest advantage and with the highest eiliciency of propulsion and attainment of speed.

I claiml. A propelling mechanism for vessels, comprising a plurality of circuit-tracks suspended from the body of the vessel, and in part extended below the bottom thereof; a train of paddle-trucks disconnected with each other, but together supported by and traveling upon said tracks; a sprocket-wheel constructed and arranged to engage in succession the paddle-trucks and to propel the same along said tracks; and means for turning said sprocket-wheel, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A propelling mechanism for vessels, comprising a number of circuit-tracks attached to Vthe body of the vessel and in part extended below the bottom thereof; a train of separate paddle-trucks adapted to be supported by and to travel upon said tracks; a pair of paddles upon each truck so arranged that when serving in the waterl their submerged portions will incline toward the bow of the vessel; a sprocket-wheel, constructed and arranged to engage in succession the paddle-trucks, and to propel the same'along said tracks; and means for turning said wheel to actuate said paddle-train, all substantially as specified.

PETER A. OOUPAL.

l/Vitnesses:

EUGENE HUMPHREY, T. K. CRAWFORD. 

